Medical preparedness for radiation emergency in Japan

Medical Preparedness for Radiation Emergency in Japan is primary for off-site public protection. Many things remains to be discussed about on-site emergency medical problems. On the other hand, each nuclear facility should have a countermeasure plan of radiation emergency including medical measures for the emergency. Disaster countermeasure act and a guideline from NSC entitled "Off-site emergency planning and preparedness for nuclear power plants" establish the system for countermeasures in radiation emergencies. The guidelines also establishes medical plans in radiation emergencies, including care system for the severely contaminated or injured. NIRS is designated by the guideline as the definite care hospital for radiation injuries and is prepared to dispatch medical specialists and to receive the injured. NIRS conducts clinical follow-up studies of the injured, researches of diagnosis and treatments for radiation injuries, and education and training for medical personnel. NIRS has the plans to serve as the reference center for emergency radiation medicine in Japan and also in Asia, if necessary. NIRS would like to serve as a member of WHO Collaborating Center for Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance (REMPAN). Now, NIRS is making preparation for providing 24 hours direct or consultative assistance with medical problems associated with radiation accidents in local, national, and hopefully international incidents

Management of internal contamination accidents

The key to success in managing accidents is the prompt and accurate response of the emergency team. Literature data on the preparation of well conceived emergency plans for the management of internal contamination accidents include among others the following two publications: "The guidebook for the treatment of accidental internal radionuclide contamination of workers", published in Radiation Protection Dosimetry, vol. 41, 1992 and "Assessment and Treatment of External and Internal Radionuclide Contamination", IAEA-TecDoc-869, 1996. Internal contamination by radionuclides occur most likely by inhalation, ingestion or absorption from wounds. The consequences of the contamination depend upon the route of intake, on the physical and chemical properties of the radionuclide and on the amount of activity incorporated. Decisions about the treatment of internally contaminated people should only be made by physicians. The techniques to assess intakes depend on the mode and level of intake, the type and energy of the radiation emitted, the biokinetic of the contaminant and the sensitivity and availability of measurement facilities. In vivo and in vitro techniques are used to quantify internal contamination. This document explains techniques such as In vivo bioassay, In vitro techniques, In vitro bioassay and it discusses about bioassay monitoring techniques, physical samples and interpretation of results

Internal dosimetry : Its evolution and new trends

Inhalation and ingestion are the major routes of intakes of radionuclides into the body, however other kinds of contamination can also occur. Dosimetric procedures are also under frequent revision in order to establish derived limits to be used in the practice of control workers and also to provide better interpretations of the results of measurements based on the modeling. A general model has been developed by ICRP for purposes of estimating intakes, body or organ contents and/or excretion rates for most radionuclides by means of describing the distribution and retention of the radionuclide under consideration into the body. This model is formed by three main components: a respiratory tract model, a gastrointestinal (GI) tract model and "metabolic" or systemic models describing distribution and retention of radionuclides in organs. This text is concerned on some discussions on the development and trends of metabolic models and dosimetry and their associated parameters, which have been adopted by ICRP to evaluate intakes of radionuclides

Efectos sobre la salud de residentes de regiones con elevada radiación de fondo

Es difícil detectar los posibles problemas de salud que crean las concentraciones naturales elevadas de la radiación de fondo, en parte porque, sin la exposición a las radiaciones esos problemas existirían también en cierta medida; igualmente porque hay otros factores que influyen en la incidencia de los problemas y, por último, porque las diferencias entre las concentraciones normales de la radiación de fondo y las concentraciones encontradas en la mayoría de las zonas de radiación intensa no son extremas. No obstante, es evidente la necesidad de conocer esos efectos sobre la salud y en diversos estudios realizados durante los últimos 30 años se ha tratado de determinar si existen o no tales efectos y cuáles son(AU)